Using astrology to promote healing and compassion for ourselves and others

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Author: Margaret Lassiter

I don’t think in all the Astro Doings blogs I’ve written that I’ve seen such a quiet month as this February. All the planets are going direct (east to west); no one is changing direction.

There will be four planets in fire (Mars, Jupiter and Uranus) and three planets in earth (Venus, Saturn and Pluto) – all in Capricorn. Generally, these elements don’t work very well together, but when inspiration (fire) is practical (earth) this combination can work wonders.

After the 18th when the Sun and Mercury move into Pisces, they’ll join Neptune, so we’ll have three planets in water. Mars will move into Taurus, so we’ll have four planets in earth. I should note that Mars, like Uranus who will move back into Taurus next month, does not like being in an earth sign to begin with, let alone such a slow moving one! Earth and water work very nicely together. Water softens earth and makes it more useable; earth provides boundaries for water.

The New Moon occurs on February 4 at 4:04 p.m. She’ll be at 150 Aquarius; Full Moon (also a super moon) occurs on February 19th a 00 Virgo; the Sun enters Pisces on the 18th at 6:04 p.m.

Happy New Year! It hardly seems possible that I’m writing the first blog for 2019! This year gets off to a pretty exciting start astrologically speaking, featuring two eclipses and Uranus changing directions. I’ll take them in order.

January 5: Partial Solar Eclipse at 8:28 p.m. ET

Solar eclipses occur at a new moon and can signal significant new beginnings. The Sun will be at 150 Capricorn, and the eclipse will last about 4 hours. However, we will not be able to see it here in the US. Saturn will be right next to (conjunct) the Sun when the eclipse occurs adding additional importance to developing new structures, both personal and global at this time, and overcoming our fears. Since Saturn is next to the eclipse point, the impact of this eclipse will be shorter than the “normal” formula of one month for every hour of the eclipse. Pluto, planet of deep-seated transformation, is also very close to this eclipse degree as well, adding additional power to this event, along with impetus to go deeply into any restructuring we might begin at this time. Those with planets within 4 degrees on either side of 150, especially in Cardinal signs (Capricorn, Libra, Aries and Cancer) may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others.

January 6: Uranus stations direct at 3:26 p.m. ET

The planet of the higher mind, rebellion and destroyer of old forms of thinking ends his retrograde (backwards, inner) motion right after the solar eclipse, adding additional energy to moving outwardly forward with the ideas, impulses and revelations gleaned during his retrograde motion. He will be at 280 Aries, the sign of the warrior (sometimes spiritual, sometimes not). Aries is the sign of the leader, me-first, and fearlessness, which sometimes looks like recklessness or impulsiveness. Again, the Cardinal signs may feel this change of direction more acutely, but for all of us the energy will be more attuned to sharing new visions, impulses and revelations, rather than pondering them. Uranus will continue to move “forward,” i.e. from east to west, until August.

January 21: Total Lunar Eclipse at 0:16 a.m. ET

As you know, eclipses generally come in pairs, and lunar eclipses occur at a full moon. This one is not only a total eclipse, but it’s also a super moon. The eclipse will be visible in North America, (here’s hoping for clear skies!) and will last about 5 hours. The Moon will be at 00 Leo, since the Sun enters Aquarius the day before. While a lunar eclipse generally focuses on service and letting go of old patterns, this one is at the beginning of the sign, which generally indicates a new beginning. And it’s in a fixed sign, and we haven’t seen too much of this energetic quality — sustaining, abiding, stubborn, feminine in its feel. (Other fixed signs include Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio.) The Moon will have an ally in Mars, who is at early degrees Aries, and Venus who is at early degrees Sagittarius, both fire signs, so we have a very early flow of energy between these planets (a grand trine). The Moon and Venus are both considered “feminine” planets, while Mars is masculine. So, both types of energy are represented in this big triangle, fueled by an eclipse at the beginning of Leo. Leo is the sign of the divine child in each of us. Perhaps the best use of this eclipse is to release that which holds us back from expressing who we are in truth and moving forward in a new way.

Elementally, the year starts out with mostly earth and water. The last third of the month includes some planets in the air element (Sun, Mercury). Air is the element of ideas, inspiration and communication, and has been by in large absent with none of the outer planets currently in signs of that element. This will be true in 2019 as well.

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Astro Doings for 2018. December is pretty quiet by comparison to other months this year. Once again, there are no planets in air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). Air is the element of archetypal ideas and breath. Air signs can be very detached, very mental and lacking in emotional depth. Their detachment can allow them to work with others, even if they don’t agree with them.

Mercury will station direct (start moving from east to west) on December 6th at 4:22 p.m. ET. He’ll be at 270 Scorpio and will move into Sagittarius on December 12. He’ll be right next to (conjunct) Jupiter for the rest of the month. Sagittarius is a fire sign that enthusiastically seeks Truth, so our ideas (Mercury) may be bigger than life (Jupiter) and not always “realistic.” In the beginning of the month, up to the Winter Solstice, the Sun will also be in Sagittarius. The only other planet in fire is Uranus, retrograde at late degrees Aries. Aries is the sign of the warrior and a quest for expression of his/her true self, without much consideration of others.

There are currently three planets in water signs: Venus, Mars and Neptune. Mars and Neptune are in Pisces, and Venus will enter Scorpio on the 2nd. Water represents emotions and psychic information and is one way to put fire out. (The other, of course, is earth, but we’ll get to that a bit later.) Emotions, as they have been for a while now, may continue to run high. However, Pisces can be the sign of empathy and compassion, an understanding of others, not from a mental perspective, but from our feeling nature. Mars is not happy to be in gentle Pisces. He rules Aries, after all, and he will enter Aries on the 31st at 9:20 p.m. ET.

The Winter Solstice is December 21st at 5:23 p.m. ET when the Sun enters Capricorn and we celebrate the return of the Light. Saturn and Pluto join the Sun in Capricorn. (You’ll recall that Saturn, planet of restrictions, lack, fear, and spiritual lessons, rules Capricorn, so there is a very easy flow of energy here.) Capricorn is a sign of planning, caution, ambition, and patience. Capricorn’s planning and patience can make him/her seem slow and unwilling to change. Not so, but Capricorn people don’t go willy-nilly into anything, like Aries people might. They understand the value of repose, which I believe most of us struggle with at times. Hence our dislike of Mercury retrograde periods. Capricorn knows how to step back and evaluate before moving forward.

The New Moon occurs on December 7th at 2:20 a.m. ET. She’ll be at 150 Sagittarius. The Full Moon occurs on December 22nd at 12:49 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 00 Cancer.

I hope you have a most joyous holiday season celebrating the return of the Light and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

November has three planets changing direction, two of them on the same day! And I’ll provide details on the celestial dance on Election Day in the US.

Election Day

The Sun will be trine (easy flow of energy) Neptune, planet of fog, illusion, compassion and redemption. Both planets will be in water signs (Scorpio and Pisces, respectively) so psychic energy will abound and emotions (water) may be running high. Those with planets in water may be more strongly affected by this trine. The Moon will enter Scorpio at 8:02 ET that morning, and Jupiter will be at late degrees of the sign, so lots of Scorpio energy – power, insight, and also healing.

Uranus, planet of rebellion and destroyer of outmoded forms, will back into Aries, sign of the warrior, ruled by Mars, god of war at 1:50 p.m. ET. Uranus is currently going “backwards” or retrograde, which means the energy can be expressed more inwardly. However, Uranus is happier in Aries than he is in slow-moving Taurus, so his lightning bolt energy may be more forceful, especially for those with planets in fire signs (Aires, Leo and Sagittarius) or in cardinal signs (Libra, Cancer, Capricorn).

Direction Changes: November 16th

Venus: Venus stops and starts moving forward at 5:50 a.m. ET. She’ll be at 250 Libra, her own sign – the sign of relationship, “others,” fairness and balance. Venus is the planet of love at the level of “I love you because you love me.” Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, says “I love you because it is in the nature of love to love.” This change of direction could signal a more direct expression of tolerance and fairness towards one another. However, Libra is an air sign, so the emphasis is relationship in the head, not necessarily in the heart. Those with planets in later degrees Aries, Cancer and Capricorn or other air signs (Gemini, Aquarius) may feel this change more strongly.

Mercury: Last retrograde of 2018! He stations (stops) at 8:33 p.m. ET and will be at 130 Sagittarius. As I’ve stated many times before this is a time for reflection and repose, something that not many of us are good at. Perhaps we can use this three-week period to reflect on what we have to be grateful for in preparation for the holiday season, and to see the truth (Sagittarius) within. Mercury will station direct on December 6th.

Direction Change: November 24th

Neptune: The planet of compassion, redemption, fog, illusion and the underworld ends her retrograde motion at 8:09 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 130 Pisces, where she has been for a long time – and will continue to be for most of the rest of this year. This change of direction may provide a more open and “direct” expression of our compassion for one another, as a result of turning our compassion inward during her retrograde period. As we are more understanding of ourselves, it becomes easier to be more tolerant of others. During this divisive and hate-filled period, this would be a welcome change.

Other Doings this Month:

Mars moved into Pisces on the 15th, adding energy and initiative to this watery, inward, other-worldy sign. It could also signal more intense storms. He will be square (growth opportunity, stress-filled need for cooperation) to Jupiter, who enters his own sign (Sagittarius) on the 8th. Fire (Sag) and water (Pisces) can have a tough time dealing with each other, as you can imagine, but fire can bring inspiration and water can bring emotional/psychic insight to our endeavors.

The New Moon occurs on the 7th at 150 Scorpio (11:02 a.m.) – a new beginning after the elections? The Sun enters Sagittarius on the 22nd at 4: 02 a.m. and the Full Moon occurs at 0:39 a.m. at 00 Gemini – more potential for new beginnings!

Continuing the quiet trend after a very busy summer, October promises to be pretty subdued, but deep. From the 10th on most planets will be in water (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces), three in earth (Uranus in Taurus; Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn) and one (Mars) in air. Earth and water are considered to be feminine elements — sustaining, abiding, nurturing.

Pluto stationed direct at the very end of September, on the 30th at 10:01 pm EDT. He was at (and still is at and will continue to be at) 180 Capricorn. No speed demon this one, so those with placements in Aries, Libra, or Cancer from 13 – 230, and Capricorn of course, may feel this change of direction more deeply. When a planet moves in direct motion, it can express more openly, with an outward focus, as opposed inwardly when a planet is retrograde. Pluto rules deep-seated transformation and Capricorn is the sign most associated with structures, the status quo, and systems. These can be personal or societal.

Venus stations retrograde on October 5th at 3:05 pm EDT. She’ll be at 100 Scorpio and will move back into her own sign, Libra, at the beginning of next month. Scorpio feels very profoundly and for a long time; Venus is the planet of love. This can be a time to become more aware of how we love ourselves, first, and then others – or don’t. It can also be a time to pamper ourselves and be more tolerant.

The Sun moves into Scorpio on the 23rd at 7:23 am. Scorpio is an extremely perceptive sign – you can’t get much (if anything) past them! And they look deeply within themselves and others. A powerful healing sign for those with the courage to look deeply and remove that which is holding them back and/or is destructive.

The Full Moon occurs the next day at 10 Taurus. The New Moon occurs on the 8th at 11:47 p.m. She’ll be at 150 Libra.

September promises to be much quieter than July or August, so enjoy the reprieve!

Saturn ends his retrograde motion on September 6th at 7:10 a.m. EDT. He’ll be at 20 Capricorn and will remain there until the end of the month. He’s in an easy flowing relationship (trine) with Uranus, who is as 20 Taurus. Both Capricorn and Taurus are earth signs, dealing with affairs of the Earth. Both move slowly: Capricorn has to plan before he moves forward, being very sure of where his next step is; Taurus would rather not move at all, but occasionally gets stung by a “spiritual” bee and then becomes the proverbial bull in the china shop. That’s the easy part. Saturn and Uranus are antithetical principles. Saturn rules the status quo, frequently presenting as fear, restriction, lack, and authority figures. Uranus destroys outmoded forms of thinking and being, individual and collective. It can be like walking with your shoes tied together.

Uranus will also be part of a T-square from September 11th through the rest of the month. Venus will enter Scorpio on the 9th, opposite Uranus. Mars will enter Aquarius on the 11th, squaring both Venus and Uranus. A square occurs when planets are close together and in signs of the same quality – in this case, fixed. (Read: feminine energy, sustaining, abiding, sometimes stubborn.) However, the signs are in different elements, so they have a hard time communicating. Venus (in water) and Uranus (in earth) will have an easier time, as earth and water are compatible elements. Their issue will be to balance between the emotional/psychic nature of water and the practicality/seeing-is-believing nature of earth. Mars adds the air element to the mix, the realm of ideas, detachment, and coolness. It will be interesting to see how this plays out collectively. Individually, those with planets in early degrees of the fixed signs, (Leo is the other), may feel the impact of this T-square more acutely as a call to blend the heart (Venus, water) with ideas to be acted on (Mars, air) and recognition and courage to tear down old thoughts, patterns and systems in a practical way (Uranus, earth).

The Autumnal Equinox occurs on the 22nd at 9:55 p.m. when the Sun enters Libra, an air sign, representing balance, potential stagnation, and awareness of others.

The New Moon occurs on the 9th at 2:01 p.m. She’ll be at 170 Virgo, the sign of the harvest. And speaking of harvest, the Harvest Full Moon will occur on the 24th at 10:52 p.m. She’ll be at 20 Aries.

Hope you had a good July and have enjoyed seeing Mars at its closest in the evening sky. Things don’t slow down much in August with a solar eclipse and 3 planets changing direction! I’ll take them in order.

August 7 at 12:49 p.m. EDT: Uranusstations retrograde at 20 Taurus.

Uranus, the planet of rebellion, innovation and destroyer of outmoded forms, will turn his energy inward during this retrograde period that will last for the rest of 2018. This can be a wonderful period to breakdown old, entrenched patterns of thinking and attitudes. Remember that Taurus is the slowest moving and most stubborn sign of the zodiac. These patterns will be well established, but if they are no longer serving you (or the world), Uranus’s inner focus can help break them down. Conversely, we may not see many new innovative ideas come forward during this period. Uranus will back into Aries for the final time in November, but more on that later.

August 11 at 5:58 a.m. EDT: Partial Solar Eclipse at 180 Leo

This is the last in this series of eclipses – and the last in 2018. This solar eclipse can signal new beginnings of creativity and self-expression and will last about four hours. Those with planets or other placements in their charts from 15-210 Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, Aries or Sagittarius may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others. Leo is the sign of the Divine Child within each of us and this eclipse, along with the eclipses in July, may provide the impetus for us to express the positive attributes of Leo: loyalty, creativity, trust and joy.

August 19 at 0:25 a.m. EDT: Mercury stations direct at 110 Leo

YIPPEEE! Mercury ends his second retrograde for 2018. Coupled with the solar eclipse, we all may able to express that which we gestated and/or learned during Mercury’s retrograde more easily as he goes direct. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to use these periods of repose, facilitated by Mercury’s retrograde motion, but now we can move forward to express who we are in truth, having integrated what we gained over the last three weeks. Mercury has one more retrograde period in 2018 – in November/December.

August 27 at 10:05 a.m. EDT: Mars stations direct at 280 Capricorn

Mars ends his two-month retrograde period, which may be somewhat similar to Mercury’s change of direction. However, Mars is impulsive, head-strong and action-oriented. He is the god of war in Greek mythology, so there may be less thinking before we act, especially in the areas of institutions and systems, which Capricorn rules. However, Mars is very helpful in starting an exercise regime and getting us off the couch! Mars is currently transiting Pluto in the US (Sibley) chart in our second house of resources (both natural and other) and values. Hopefully this conjunction will provide the energy (Mars) to delve deeply (Pluto) into what we value, what the original values were when this country was founded and help create structures (Capricorn) to support those values.

Other doings of note:

Venus, the planet of love, beauty and peace, enters her own sign (Libra) on August 7th. Libra is the sign of relationship, balance and an increased awareness of others. By the last third of August, she will be the only planet in an air sign – element of ideas and inspiration.

The Sun enters Virgo on August 23rd right after midnight EDT. Virgo is the sign of harvest, on every level, and integration. Virgo can get lost in the details of any situation and can also be a perfectionist, but the true meaning of the sign is to express ourselves fully and to be at one with our spirit.

The Full Moon occurs on August 26th at 7:56 a.m. EDT. She’ll be at 30 Pisces and in a wide free-flowing relationship with Neptune.

Fasten your seat belts! July promises a lot of celestial activity including two eclipses and planets changing direction. I’ll take them in order.

July 10: Jupiter goes direct at 1:04 p.m. EDT at 130 Scorpio

Jupiter, the planet of expansion (great, unless it’s my waistline!), faith, good fortune with a tendency to exaggerate, ends his retrograde motion and starts moving direct (from east to west, as we see it). He will start moving very slowly at first and will remain at 130 Scorpio for the rest of the month. He will square Mars in Aquarius, although the square will be out of orb by the end of the month. Squares are growth opportunities when planets are in signs of the same quality – in this case fixed. Aquarius is air and Scorpio is water, not the happiest combination. Fixed energy sustains, holds and/or gets stuck! Those with planets at from 8 – 180 in any of the fixed signs (Leo and Taurus are the other two) may feel this change of direction more acutely.

July 12: Partial Solar Eclipse at 200 Cancer at 10:48 p.m. EDT

This is the first in a series of eclipses that will occur in July and August. It will not be visible in the US, and because it’s a partial eclipse with the Moon only covering part of the Sun, it will only last about 3 hours. A solar eclipse is a powerful New Moon and it can signal a new beginning depending on how it impacts your chart. Those with planets from 17-230 Cancer, Capricorn, Aries and/or Libra may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others. I think of it as an energetic funnel that remains in place for one month for every hour of the eclipse. As planets transit (i.e. go over 200 Cancer) they pour their specific type of energy into the funnel, which then impacts other planets in your chart connected to that degree and sign. Think of it as a tuning fork that makes the planet vibrate. This eclipse is very close to the Sun and Mercury in the natal US chart (Sibly). It will be interesting to see how this eclipse impacts our thinking (Mercury) and how we express ourselves (Sun) to ourselves and to the world.

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 5:01 p.m. EDT

Leo is a fixed sign in the fire element. He will create a Fixed Grand Cross with Uranus in Taurus, Jupiter in Scorpio and Mars in Aquarius. It looks like a big X with the Sun and Jupiter on opposite ends of one line and Uranus and Mars opposite each other on the other line. This may feel like we’re all stuck in a rut, because fixed energy can be very stubborn, and a Fixed Grand Cross is a closed figure, making it more challenging for the energy of each planet to express itself. Mars, the planet of initiative, the warrior and energy in general is not happy in a fixed sign – too slow for him. And Uranus, the planet of rebellion, is having a very hard time in the slowest moving sign of the zodiac – Taurus. Those with planets in early to mid-degrees of any of the fixed signs may feel somewhat stalled. On the other hand, it provides sustaining energy for any project you might undertake.

July 26: Mercury stations retrograde at 230 Leo at 1:03 a.m. EDT

Everyone’s favorite retrograde – or at least the most talked about! Mercury begins his second retrograde of 2018 during the very active last week of July, and it will last for about three weeks. Mercury retrogrades are great times to re-group and re-think and re-pose, and it goes along nicely with the Fixed Grand Cross unless you’re in a hurry! We tend not to value periods of repose and reflection, but taking time to pull back, slow down and reflect is a very important activity. Of course, Mercury retrograde does have the reputation for snafus, but these also make us slow down and reconsider.

July 27: Total Lunar Eclipse at 40 Aquarius at 4:20 p.m. EDT

Eclipses come in pairs generally about two weeks apart. (Actually, there is a third solar eclipse this time, which will occur on August 11.) This eclipse will not be visible in the US either and will last about six hours. Lunar eclipses occur at a full moon and generally indicate at time to let go of old patterns and this one will have a particular focus on service. Energetically it operates the same way a solar eclipse does. Those with planets from 1-70 of fixed signs may feel this eclipse’s impact more strongly. The Leo-Aquarius axis deals with balancing the needs of the individual (Leo) and the needs of the group (Aquarius), and this eclipse will also be a part of the Fixed Grand Cross until she moves into late degrees Aquarius early on the 29th.

July has four planets in earth signs: Venus (Virgo), Saturn and Pluto (Capricorn) and Uranus in Taurus. The earth element is generally grounded, detail oriented, and somewhat conservative. There is only one planet in air, the element of ideas: Mars in Aquarius. Jupiter and Neptune are in an easy-flowing relationship in water, the element of emotions and psychic energy. We could either expand (Jupiter) our dreams or be in a bigger fog (Neptune)!

In addition to the longest day of the year this month, two planets change directions.

Neptune, planet of illusion, fog, compassion and the higher octave of Venus, stations retrograde (astro-speak for stops and goes backwards) on June 18 at 7:27 p.m. EDT. She’ll be at 160 degrees Pisces and will remain there for the rest of the month. Those with placements around 160 may be more impacted by this change of direction. She is still in an easy flow of energy with Jupiter, who is retrograde in Scorpio (another water sign), and when the Sun goes into Cancer (the third water sign) there will be a grand trine in water. Emotions will be running high, and maybe water. However, Neptune retrograde also presents an opportunity to turn our compassion on ourselves, as we delve deeply (Scorpio) into patterns that no longer serve us. Neptune’s energy is unconditional love – we love because it is in the nature of love to love. I am reminded of the sermon at the royal wedding when Reverend Michael Curry said: “Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way.”

Mars, planet of energy, initiating projects and war, stations retrograde on June 26 at 5:05 p.m. EDT. He’ll be at 90 Aquarius, the sign of rebellion and destroyer of old forms of thinking or just old forms of anything. By the last third of the month, he will be the only planet in the air element, so the realm of ideas will not be as prominent. (There will be a lot of earth along with the water. Good thing – earth provides some boundaries for water and water softens earth.) Mars retrograde can provide an opportunity to break down old patterns of thinking (Aquarius) that have us stuck in a rut.

From the 13th on, when Venus enters Leo, there will be more fixed energy with Venus opposing (calling for balance, awareness of others) Mars in Aquarius. By the end of the month, Jupiter in Scorpio will make a fixed T-square. A square is a growth opportunity between planets in signs of the same quality, in this case fixed. Fixed energy sustains; it can be quite stubborn and slow-moving, but without it nothing would manifest. Attention those with fixed signs in your natal charts – a growth opportunity may be coming your way, especially for those with planets in the middle of the sign (100 to 200). And Uranus is in the fourth fixed sign, Taurus, but is still too far away to be a part of this fixed configuration. However, all four fixed signs: earth (Taurus), water (Scorpio), fire (Leo) and air (Aquarius), are dancing together this month.

The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21 at 6:07 a.m. EDT when the Sun enters Cancer. Cancer is a water sign, mostly concerned with home, hearth and good food. The New Moon occurs on June 13 at 3:43 p.m. at 220 Gemini; the Full Moon occurs on June 28th at 0.53 a.m. EDT at 60 Capricorn.

We tend to pay more attention when planets change direction in their celestial dance – direct or retrograde, especially when Mercury is involved! This May all the planets continue in the same direction they were in at the end of April. So, in that sense, it’s a pretty quiet month. What we sometimes don’t pay attention to is when planets change dance partners, aka signs. And in May three of them do just that, not including the Sun who changes partners every month or the Moon or Mercury who change them all the time, because they move so quickly through the heavens.

On May 15thUranus, planet of rebellion, flashes of intuition, inspiration and light, and of the Higher Mind moves into Taurus at 11:23 am EDT. This is a fairly big deal, since he will be in Taurus until July 2025 when he enters Gemini. Of all the signs in the zodiac, Uranus finds Taurus one of the most challenging. Think about driving behind someone going 15 mph on the highway and you’ll get a sense of this. Uranus rules lightning bolts, flashes of insight, destruction of outmoded form. Taurus is the most stubborn sign of the zodiac, rules form, moves glacially (by Uranus’s perspective), and stops all the time to smell the flowers, eat chocolate and just sit. To Taurus, Uranus feels like the proverbial bee that keeps stinging him in the backside to get him to change or that car behind you that keeps flashing its headlights to get you to move over or go faster. So, since we can’t get Taurus to move over, how can we use this energy to our advantage? First, we can realize that Taurus is an earth sign, so all these brilliant flashes of inspiration will need to have a practical application. In addition, unlike Aries which starts but doesn’t finish, Taurus is a fixed sign, which means it holds the energy until the idea/concept/inspiration is brought into form. (It can also mean stubborn, stuck, and unwilling to change.) There haven’t been many planets in fixed signs recently, which I believe has contributed to the rather frenetic energy across the globe. Those of us with planets in early degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius may feel this entry of Uranus into Taurus more profoundly. And remember, Taurus has his good buds, Saturn and Pluto, in earthy Capricorn to help him deal with this rambunctious Uranus and to keep his flashes of insight on the practical side.

If that isn’t enough fixed energy, Mars enters Aquarius on May 16. This isn’t as challenging a relationship as Uranus in Taurus, but Aquarius, an air sign, can be quite pig-headed and unwilling to change its mind once it makes a decision about something. It also introduces the air element – the element of ideas — into the celestial mix. We haven’t had a lot of air energy recently, so not a lot of new ideas. Mars here can make us more impatient with those who don’t see our point of view or agree with us. Don’t forget, Uranus rules Aquarius, and Uranus just left the sign that Mars rules, Aries, so there is an interesting connection there. Aquarius is the sign of the visionary, primarily concerned with making things better for the group (world), and Mars (god of war) will provide energy and impetus to make change. However, Aquarius can be quite impatient with the status quo and frequently intolerant of those who don’t see the need for change as s/he does. This could mean new ways of using our Mars energy (the warrior) to make change for the benefit of all (Aquarius). Those with planets in fixed signs are going to get a double whammy the second full week of May.

And last, but certainly not least, Venus enters Cancer on May 19 at 9:11 am EDT. Cancer is a water sign, the Moon’s favorite sign. What’s interesting about this is that Venus creates a big triangle (trine) in water with Jupiter in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces that lasts until mid-June. When planets are in the same element they can communicate with each other easily and understand each other better. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, both dealing with love and compassion. Venus’s idea of love is more personal – I love you because you love me. Neptune, like the sea, is more vast and universal – I love you because it is in the nature of love to love. Jupiter in Scorpio could provide depth of insight. The water element can make us very emotional and our psychic sense more acute. It also can increase empathy and deep understanding of one another. Emotions could be running very high in the US, which is a Cancer sun-sign country, as is our good neighbor to the north, Canada.

Oh, yeah, the Sun moves into Gemini on May 20 at 10:15 pm EDT. The sign of the twins, Gemini is interested in everything for about five minutes and then wants to move on to something else. An air sign, Gemini is most comfortable in the realm of ideas and is frequently referred to as “the jack of all trades, master of none.”

The New Moon occurs on May 15 at 7:48 am at 240 Taurus and the Full Moon occurs on May 29th at 10:19 am at 80 Sagittarius.